Politics&Rights

The Professional Paid Progressive Protest Performers (P5s) were on the streets within minutes of President Trump’s announcement that the eminently qualified Neil Gorsuch was his selection for the Supreme Court vacancy. Some of them with professionally pre-printed signs; a fill-in-the-blank protest from professional agitators, prepared to perform for the camera in response to anything Trump says or does. Anyway, Gorsuch seems like a solid pick. Confirmed unanimously by the senate, praised even by Obama appointees, and a guaranteed minimum 60 IQ points higher than Sonia Sotomayor. There is no sane reason not to confirm him. Key word being “sane.” At least, this time, no one got their head bashed in at the protest.

Politics&RightsComments Off on Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand to feature GLAAD Media Awards nominees

ComcastComcast just announced partnership with GLAAD to curate more than 100 titles of GLAAD Media Awards-related content on Xfinity On Demand. Starting on January 31, in conjunction with the announcement of this year’s 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards nominees, newly announced nominees, as well as previous award recipients will become part of the growing list of titles within the recently created Xfinity LGBTQ Film & TV Collection. “Through this partnership, we’re giving these LGBTQ storytellers access to a platform that has the potential to reach tens of millions of viewers,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO. “We applaud Comcast for creating an experience that puts a spotlight on LGBTQ content and we’re proud to add our GLAAD Media Awards-related...

It’s below the fold, because of its plentiful use of the New Jersey comma. (Hey, this is a classy blog.) I hope it is real. (It is true that the violent thugs who rioted at President Trump’s inauguration face up to ten years in jail and $25,000 fines, but given how many “sympathetic” judges there are in DC, and how well-connected and lawyered up the thugs are, most of them will probably get community service or something.)

Photo Credit: GLAADIn just one week, LGBTQ Americans have seen the new Trump administration hire the top defender for North Carolina’s HB2 to head up the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. All references and issues important to the LGBTQ community have been left off key Trump Administration websites, including the White House and Department of Education. Finally, President Trump’s top spokesperson said, “he didn’t know” if the president would issue executive orders to peel back important rights for LGBTQ Americans. But wait, there’s more to come. President Donald Trump has said that next Thursday he will make his U.S. Supreme Court nomination announcement. This is the same Supreme Court vacancy anti-LGBTQ Congressional leaders declined to fill during...

Politics&RightsComments Off on The Intersectionalities of Gender Dysphoria and Climate Change

These two, um, guys have a super serial point to make about Global Warming and its effect on, um, their ability to reproduce. “Our lives matter, climate change is real. Stop trying to deny it.” Climate deniers: “We are coming for you.”

Politics&RightsComments Off on Praying against their fellow Americans: Inauguration prayers from anti-LGBTQ activists

Photo credit: dabdiputs via Foter.com / CC BY-SA Inaugurations have historically included prayers from religious leaders whose prayers featured in the inauguration ceremony represent the ideology and often the agenda of the incoming president. President Obama chose prayers who reflected the historically inclusive nature of his election. He invited openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to offer a prayer at his 2009 inauguration, and in 2013 tapped Myrlie Evers-Willians, the first woman and layperson to deliver the invocation. The Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, then Moderator of the LGBTQ community serving Metropolitcan Community Church, read scripture at the 2013 interfaith prayer breakfast. However, in an attempt to create space for diverse religious views, Obama also invited anti-LGBTQ pastor Rick Warren to offer the invocation in 2009. In 2013, Pastor Louie...

Politics&RightsComments Off on Obama Punishes Political Opponents; Pardons America’s Enemies

Andrew McCarthy via Instapundit: The degree to which Obama has wielded executive power in favor of America’s enemies and against his own political opponents and scapegoats is breathtaking. The treasonous Manning gets an 80 percent shave off his sentence. Now we learn Oscar Lopez-Rivera, an unrepentant FALN terrorist convicted of waging war against the United States, has also had his sentence commuted. Taliban commanders are released, replenishing our jihadist enemies even as they continue prosecuting a terrorist war against our troops and allies, in exchange for Bowe Bergdahl, a deserter who may, at least indirectly, have caused the deaths of American soldiers. Iran is enriched and empowered with tens of billions of dollars – including ransom cash – and a mammoth nuclear energy program (with the certainty ...

Politics&RightsComments Off on Join GLAAD & hundreds of thousands more at the Women’s March on Washington

Women's March on Washington Facebook EventThe Women’s March on Washington, taking place this Saturday, January 21 in Washington D.C., is expected to attract nearly one million people to rally and march in solidarity for equality, acceptance, diversity, and safety. More than 600 “sister marches” will also be taking place throughout the nation, as well as worldwide, the same day as a way for people everywhere to take action. GLAAD is an official partner of the Women’s March on Washington and GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis will be speaking at the Women's March in Los Angeles. Additional members of GLAAD’s team will be participating on the ground across the country, in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Here are details...

Politics&RightsComments Off on Country music artists, industry share their support for Cody Alan

Photo Credit: CMTThis morning, CMT's Hot 20 Countdown host Cody Alan came out as gay in a moving post on his official Facebook page. Alan also appears on radio programs CMT After MidNite and CMT Radio Live. Through these venues, he reaches over 90 million homes and two million listeners per week. That's why this morning’s personal announcement has such a tremendous impact in accelerating acceptance of LGBTQ people nationwide, and now some of country's biggest stars and other celebrities are sharing their support for Alan's message. Check out what they had to say below!Congrats @cmtcody Youre paving the way for others in the country music community to be themselves proudly. As we all should be! Proud of you— KACEY MUSGRAVES (@KaceyMusgraves) January 12, 2017Country music was built on...

Every Democrat on the Judiciary Committee knows that Jeff Sessions is not a racist. This obscene Grandstanding is theater for their racially obsessed base. There’s no principle involved here. They don’t care how much damage it does to the country because they think it helps their party. The entire basis for the accusation that Jeff Sessions is a racist… (and the reason his hearing was interrupted by deranged Code Pink harridans dressed in KKK drag)… comes from accusations made by a delusional, paranoid lunatic who thought he was getting secret messages from his TV. And on that alone, the reputation of an honorable man was smeared because Democrats are nasty people, devoid of honor and decency.

Politics&RightsComments Off on Cody Alan, country music tv and radio star, comes out in a moving post

Photo Credit: CMT As host of CMT’s signature weekly music TV show, Hot 20 Countdown, Cody Alan is seen in over 90 million homes. And through CMT After MidNite and CMT Radio Live, he’s heard by nearly 2 million weekly listeners on more than 250 stations. From Carrie Underwood to Reba McEntire to Blake Shelton and beyond, when country stars talk, they talk to Cody Alan! That's why this morning’s personal announcement has such a tremendous impact in accelerating acceptance of LGBTQ people nationwide ... across all music genres. Posting on social media, Cody started by sharing: “2017. As we start a new year, there is something I want to share with you. You see, I’m gay. This is not a choice I made, but something I...

Politics&RightsComments Off on Three LGBT state representatives sworn in this week

Above: Sam Park, Daniel Hernandez, and Leslie Herod Four LGBT people of color won seats in state legislatures for the first time last November -- exciting victories that will bring meaningful change. This week, three of those state representatives will be sworn in. Sam Park, elected to represent Georgia’s House District 101, will be sworn in today and will become the first openly gay man in Georgia’s General Assembly.

Jeff Sessions and Rex Tillerson are coming across as intelligent, serious professional men. The Democrats are coming off as grandstanding clowns. Marco Rubio, bizarrely, seems intent on holding Rex Tillerson personally responsible for the bombing of Aleppo. And then there are the Democrat protesters. In my prayers tonight, I’m going to thank God for making me normal. BTW: Have you seen the cabinet Hillary was going to put together? Her pick for EPA (or Education) was… rather interesting.

Politics&RightsComments Off on The most intriguing new LGBTQ characters of 2016

Photo Credit: Freeform This year was a mixed bag for LGBTQ representation in entertainment media. While there has been a general uptick in the quantity of LGBTQ characters appearing in entertainment in the past year, these characters and stories have not all been particularly groundbreaking or original. There were some, however, whom audiences and critics connected with and noted for telling rare or never-before-seen stories. Here are just a few of the newly introduced LGBTQ characters in 2016 that stood out from the crowd in film and documentary, television, video games, and comics. Check out our 2015 list here. FILM AND DOCUMENTARY Barry Jenkins’ hit film Moonlight, inspired by the short play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney, has raked in over $...

A Fox sitcom is featuring a six-year-old boy wearing an S&M ball gag. Because transgender kindergarteners in S&M gear are totally edgy and stuff. Stuff like this is why I don’t *completely* discount #pizzagate.

Photo Credit: Freeform Grab the remote, set your DVR or queue up your streaming service of choice! GLAAD is bringing you the highlights in LGBTQ on TV this week. Check back every Sunday for up-to-date coverage in LGBTQ-inclusive programming on TV. In the season two premiere of Shadowhunters, Alec, Clary, and Isabelle are desperate to find Jace after he left with Valentine, but the arrival of Clave representative Victor Aldertree ruins their plans. Meanwhile, Jocelyn works to catch up on everything that changed while she was asleep. Shadowhunters: Monday, 8pm on Freeform. Nashville moves to CMT for season five with a back-to-back premiere event. Rayna faces questions about the future of her own musical career as Highway 65 struggles, and Maddie's return causes...

Spurred in part by anti-LGBT legislation in his state, North Carolina Representative Cecil Brockman came out as bisexual in a Greensboro News & Record column by Susan Ladd. Brockman hopes to bring visibility for the LGBT community in in the North Carolina General Assembly and to be a role model for LGBT youth.

Politics&RightsComments Off on A few Spanish-language films to discover (or re-discover) during the holidays

De Chica en Chica At this time of year, it’s not uncommon to find yourself at home with time on your hands. If you’re craving some Latinx LGBTQ-friendly films, here are a few suggestions of films to rent or go out and see. Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) directed by Mariana Rondón, is a highly-acclaimed Venezuelan film that tells the story of a young man dealing with hair issues and familial rejection. Azul y no tan rosa (My Straight Son) also from Venezuela, won the coveted Goya award, and follows a fashion photographer who has to care for his partner’s son. From Argentina: Papu Curotto’s Esteros, tells the story of two men, reunited as adults, who spent many childhood summer together in...

Photo Credit: Love is Love/ Courtesy IDW Publishing Today, IDW Publishing with the support of DC Entertainment released the 144-page anthology graphic novel Love is Love featuring LGBTQ stories from some of the biggest names in comics including Steve Orlando, James Tynion IV, Gail Simone, Dan Parent, and more. All proceeds benefit the victims, survivors, and families of those affected by the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando this June. You can order Love is Love – in digital format or print – now at IDW’s website. The book, organized by out writer Marc Andreyko (Batwoman) who also wrote a special introduction, includes a mix of settings from realistic to sci-fi fantasy and a range of stories from the need for gun control legislation, to messages...

Politics&RightsComments Off on Photos: Victory Fund team deployed across the country for GOTV efforts

The Victory Fund team is on the ground across the country -- canvassing, door knocking and discussing GOTV strategies with LGBT candidates who can make an outsize impact on equality with wins on Election Day. Seven Victory Fund team members joined campaigns for the last few days before voters hit the polls. We were or are out with Governor Kate Brown, Jennifer Webb, Beth Tuura, Jane Campbell, Tommy Greene, Matt Heinz and Ken Keechl. Check out some great photos below. Tags: Beth Tuura Jane Campbell Tommy Greene Matt Heinz Ken Keechl Kate Brown

Politics&RightsComments Off on Trump lost popularity battle; signing FADA will lose him the war

Donald J. Trump lost the popular vote by nearly three million. He loves to frame his electoral victory as an “historic landslide,” but the popular vote number is the one history will most remember. Hillary Clinton, the first woman on a general election major party ticket, received more votes than any non-president in history. Only President Obama, and only in 2008, earned more. Some Trump supporters like to dismiss this inconvenient fact with a line about those voters all living in California and New York, as if Golden and Empire State residents are somehow less deserving of a say on election day. These critics get away with this line of thinking because our Electoral College system is what it is. However, no amount of spinning or...